Storms Claim Life, Leave 117,000 Without Power Across NSW
Sydney, NSW – A man is dead and over 117,000 properties are without power as severe thunderstorms swept across Sydney and western New South wales on Thursday evening. The storms brought damaging winds, heavy rainfall, and widespread disruption, occurring on the same day as catastrophic fire conditions gripped other parts of the state.
The severe weather system impacted areas from the hunter region to the Mid North Coast and as far north as the Northern Rivers, with wind gusts reaching 98km/h at Merriwa and 96km/h at Taree Airport. Ausgrid reported over 117,000 customers where without power as of 9:30pm AEDT, with crews working to restore supply. The fatality occurred in Doonside,near Sydney’s Blacktown,where a tree fell onto a fence.
A severe thunderstorm warning remains in place for Lismore,Grafton,Tenterfield,Tweed Heads,Murwillumbah and Byron Bay as of 9:15pm AEDT. The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) warned that this summer weather has “come in early and hard.”
The storms added to a challenging day for NSW, with total fire bans in place in 11 Rural Fire service (RFS) districts and a catastrophic fire danger declared for the lower central west plains. RFS Deputy Commissioner Ben Millington stated that warm conditions are expected to continue through to Sunday, with further Total Fire Bans possible.
